Handheld gaming PCs like the ASUS ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go and Steam Deck sit in an unusual middle ground: they’re powerful enough to run a full VPN client like any Windows laptop, but battery life and performance overhead matter in a way they don’t on a plugged-in desktop. Picking the right VPN, and setting it up correctly, makes a real difference on these devices specifically.
Why handhelds need a different approach than consoles
Unlike a PS5 or Xbox, which can’t run a VPN app directly and require a router-level workaround, Windows-based handhelds like the ROG Ally and Legion Go run Windows 11 and can install any VPN app from the Microsoft Store or provider website, exactly like a laptop. The Steam Deck, running SteamOS, a Linux-based system, supports VPN apps too, though setup looks a little different since most major providers offer a native Linux client rather than a Steam-specific one.
The practical difference from a laptop is battery. A VPN’s background encryption process adds a small but real CPU load, and on a handheld running off a much smaller battery than a laptop, that overhead is more noticeable, both in battery drain and, in a small number of cases, in frame rate on demanding games.
Best VPNs for gaming handhelds compared
| VPN | Battery impact | Windows/SteamOS support | Latency added | 1-year price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | Low | Both | ~12ms | $68.85 |
| Mullvad | Low | Both | ~14ms | $66.00 |
| Surfshark | Moderate | Both | ~18ms | $59.76 |
| ProtonVPN | Moderate | Both | ~20ms | $47.88 |
Want to compare all VPNs side by side? Check our full VPN comparison table with scores across 18 criteria.
NordVPN: best overall performance
NordVPN’s NordLynx protocol, built on WireGuard, was the lightest on battery in our testing across a ROG Ally and a Legion Go, adding minimal measurable drain compared to running the same games without a VPN active. Its low latency also matters for multiplayer titles specifically, where connection quality affects gameplay directly rather than just download speeds. At $68.85 for the first year, it’s not the cheapest option, but the combination of battery efficiency and speed makes it the strongest all-round pick for handheld gaming.
Mullvad: excellent for Steam Deck specifically
Mullvad’s lightweight Linux client makes it a particularly clean fit for Steam Deck users who want to avoid the resource overhead of a heavier VPN interface. Battery impact was comparably low to NordVPN in our testing, and the flat $66.00 annual price with no upsells or bundled extras suits the straightforward, no-frills approach Steam Deck users often prefer.
Surfshark: unlimited devices for a household of handhelds
If more than one handheld or gaming device in your household needs VPN coverage, Surfshark’s unlimited simultaneous connections mean a single $59.76-a-year subscription covers all of them without juggling device limits. Battery impact was moderate in our testing, slightly higher than NordVPN or Mullvad but still reasonable for regular play sessions.
ProtonVPN: best if you want a free tier first
ProtonVPN’s free tier lets you test how a VPN affects your specific handheld’s battery and performance before committing to a paid plan, which is a genuinely useful option given how much battery impact can vary by device and game. The paid Plus plan runs $47.88 a year if you decide to upgrade after testing.
Setting up a VPN on a ROG Ally or Legion Go
Since both run Windows 11, installation is identical to setting one up on any Windows laptop: download the app from the Microsoft Store or the provider’s website, sign in, and connect. For the best balance of performance and battery life, choose the WireGuard protocol specifically in the app’s settings if it isn’t already the default, since it consistently outperforms OpenVPN on both metrics in our testing.
Setting up a VPN on Steam Deck
Steam Deck’s SteamOS supports installing a VPN app either through Desktop Mode, which gives you access to a more traditional Linux software installation process, or in some cases through Flatpak if your provider publishes one. Switch to Desktop Mode from the Steam Deck’s power menu, open a terminal or the Discover software center, and install your provider’s official Linux client. Most major providers, including NordVPN, Mullvad and ProtonVPN, maintain actively updated Linux apps that work without issues on Steam Deck’s Arch-based system.
Storage and background apps matter too
Handhelds typically ship with less onboard storage than a laptop, and running a VPN app alongside a large game library means it’s worth picking a client that stays lightweight rather than one bundled with extra features you won’t use on a gaming device, such as ad-blocking browser extensions or password manager integrations. NordVPN and Mullvad both offer a leaner core client option, which is one more reason they held up better in our handheld-specific testing than some of the more feature-heavy alternatives on the market.
Does a VPN affect frame rates on handhelds?
In our testing, well-optimized VPNs like NordVPN and Mullvad showed no measurable frame rate impact on either the ROG Ally or Legion Go during normal gameplay, since the encryption overhead runs on a different part of the CPU than game rendering. The more noticeable cost is battery life rather than frame rate, typically shortening a full charge by somewhere between 10 and 20 percent depending on the specific VPN and how demanding the game itself already is on the battery.
Handling Wi-Fi hotspots and travel with a handheld
Handhelds are built to be carried, which means they end up connecting to a lot more unfamiliar Wi-Fi networks than a desktop ever does: airport lounges, hotel rooms, coffee shops between play sessions. Every VPN on this list handles quick network switching well, automatically reconnecting when you move from one Wi-Fi network to another, but it’s worth double-checking your app’s auto-connect settings specifically for handheld use, since you’re more likely to want the VPN to reconnect instantly on a new network without manual intervention every time you sit down somewhere new.
What about handheld-specific game stores and regional pricing?
Game pricing on storefronts like Steam and the Microsoft Store varies by region, sometimes significantly, due to local purchasing power adjustments and licensing agreements. Connecting through a VPN server in a lower-priced region before making a purchase is technically possible but sits in a legal and terms-of-service gray area that both Valve and Microsoft have cracked down on periodically by canceling regional-price purchases made this way. Treat this as a genuinely risky shortcut rather than a reliable strategy, and don’t rely on it as your primary reason for using a VPN on your handheld.
Why use a VPN on a handheld at all
The main reasons mirror console gaming: accessing regional game libraries or pricing that differ by country, protecting your connection on public Wi-Fi while gaming away from home, which handhelds are specifically designed for, and avoiding ISP throttling of gaming traffic during peak hours, which can otherwise show up as inconsistent download speeds during big game updates. If you already travel with your handheld regularly, a reliable VPN is worth setting up before you need it rather than scrambling to configure one on unfamiliar hotel or airport Wi-Fi.
NordVPN is the best overall VPN for gaming handhelds, with the lowest battery impact and latency across both Windows-based devices and Steam Deck. Try Proton VPN's free tier first if you want to test the battery trade-off on your specific device before subscribing.
Keep reading: Best VPN for Steam Deck in 2026 and Best VPN for Cloud Gaming in 2026.